Betta wont eat

Question
I have had this betta, Frankie, for about 5 months.  He lives in a vase without a plant on top (it died two bettas ago).  Right after I bought Frankie he did not eat anything, but that changed about 2 weeks after I bought him and he ate all the time.  Within the last week or so, he swims for the food, and it looks like he is trying to eat it, but he misses it three or four times and then finally knocks it to the bottom.  He does chase after the food, but he usually misses it.  Occasionally he does catch one, or he will grab one off the top. My boyfriend fish-sat for me over the weekend and he thought Frankie was blind since he kept missing the food, but he still reacts to me approaching his vase.  I am getting worried, he does not appear sick, but I do not think he can live much longer without eating.  The food is small betta pellets, and it is the same food he has always eaten. How can I get him to eat again?
Thanks,
Erin

Answer
Hi Erin;

I am so sorry your question has not been answered for so long! Something is wrong with the system and your question never got to my email box. I kept getting notices that I had questions that weren't being answered and I kept checking but nothing was there. Yours wasn't the only one that finally showed up and I am so sorry this has happened. I hope I'm not too late.....

Frankie may have an infection that is keeping him from being able to take food in or he could even be constipated. Try using an antibiotic like Maracyn 2. It absorbs into the fish to get to where there is infection. That should help if it's infection causing his problem. Get his water temperature up and keep it at a consistent level. Bettas need 76 to 80 degrees.

If constipation could be the trouble, here is a good web page about it;

http://www.petfish.net/articles/Bettas/constipation.php

I hope he is okay......

At Your Service;
Chris Robbins